New Interpretation Tech to Be Unveiled at InterpretAmerica 5

By Katharine Allen & Barry S. Olsen

Published May 26, 2015

RIDE THE WAVE!

Ride the Wave! is this year's InterpretAmerica 5 theme. The idea? Let's catch the huge wave of change bearing down upon us and ride it rather than getting rolled hard in the surf. Sure, it will be bumpy, we'll get wet, but we'll stay standing.

In our ongoing commitment to help interpreters catch that wave rather than get dunked by it, we will be highlighting a new technology that conference interpreters will likely be seeing soon: Hearing HotspotTM

RF OR IR...AND NOW WI-FI

In the world of conference interpreting, the technology used to deliver the interpreter’s voice from the booth to receivers and headsets on the listener’s ears has changed relatively little over the last quarter century. There have been basically two choices: FM radio frequency (RF) transmitted at the meeting venue and infrared technology (IR) that transmits the audio signal using light.

Since the advent of the smartphone and the introduction of mobile apps in 2007, interpreters and event organizers alike have been wondering why doesn’t someone create a way to deliver interpretation to meeting participants using an app on their smartphones?

Since 2010, at InterpretAmerica we have been keeping an eye on technological developments and new innovations that are having an effect on how and where interpreters work and then reporting on these developments through our conferences, blogs (Interpreting the News and the InterpretAmerica Blog) and social media.

This year is no exception. At InterpretAmerica 5 on June 12-13, participants will have the opportunity to experience first-hand a potentially disruptive innovation in the way conference attendees are able to listen to interpretation. We have partnered again this year with Williams Sound, one of our Diamond Sponsors, to make it possible.

Hearing HotspotTM is an innovative new listening technology that allows any venue to stream via Wi-Fi the audio from interpreting booths directly to an individual’s smartphone or tablet. This new technology effectively turns any iOS or Android device into a receiver. All the listener has to do is download the app, connect to the Wi-Fi network, plug in some earbuds and start listening. Skeptical? Take a look at this application of the technology at a large multilingual event scheduled for 2016.

At InterpretAmerica 5 we will have two presentations in languages other than English. And, of course, we’ll be providing simultaneous interpretation into English from the original Spanish and German.

If you are planning to attend InterpretAmerica 5 at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies At Monterey in June, you can download the app now on iTunes or Google Play so you’ll be all set on June 12-13. If you haven’t registered, there’s still time. All you need to do is click here to get started.

If you plan on watching the plenary sessions via VoiceBoxer.com, we have you covered as well. Both the floor audio and the live simultaneous interpretation will be available. All you’ll have to do is select which language you want to listen to from a drop-down menu on the screen. Click here for more information on how to register for the live webcast.

Whether you’ll be joining us in beautiful Monterey, California, or watching online from anywhere in the world, you’ll be able to experience cutting-edge technology at InterpretAmerica 5!